Luka dazzles in return to Dallas as NBA teams gear up for the playoffs

• Luka Dončić dazzled in his return to Dallas with a 45-point effort in a Los Angeles Lakers win. Doncic was traded from the Mavericks to the Lakers in February.
• The Lakers clinched a playoff spot with a win and could wrap up a 3-seed with a win in their last two regular-season games.
• Other teams are jockeying for a playoff position in the final few days of the regular season, hoping to stay out of the play-in tournament.

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The NBA regular season has given fans a slew of big moments and even more drama off the court this year. Now, the league is gearing up for its showcase event, the playoffs.

Luka puts on a show for his former hometown

As a tease, on Wednesday night, April 9, Luka Dončić returned to Dallas. The Mavericks shocked the sports world in February when they traded Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. Before the game, there were many tears as the Slovenian star watched a video tribute covering his seven years in Big D while the home crowd showered him with praise.

Then, he shook off the emotions and scored a season-high 45 points on his old team. Doncic credited his Laker teammates with helping him through the transition.

“We talked about that before the game, and everybody had my back, coaches to players, and we’re trying to build something special here, and that was pretty nice to see,” Doncic said.

The win helped the Lakers clinch a playoff spot as one of the top seeds in the Western Conference. Head coach JJ Redick was in awe of his star player’s abilities.

“Lights turn on, he’s, you know, he’s teary-eyed still as we walk out on the court for the tip ball. To have the emotional resolve to then go put on that kind of performance, it’s superhuman,” Reddick said.

What’s the playoff race like in the Western Conference?

The Lakers could lock up a 3-seed in the playoffs with a win in one of their final two games. The top six seeds, including the team with the best record in the league, the Oklahoma City Thunder, will have a week off during the play-in tournament.

In the bottom half of the Western Conference, several teams are jockeying for position. That includes Dallas, despite their loss to the Lakers. The Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves play a big game Thursday, April 10, that could reshuffle things for the play-in tournament. Avoiding those extra games is crucial for teams looking to make a deep run. Playoff veterans like the Golden State Warriors know it; they‘re looking for a bounce back after a tough loss in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday night.

“We’re already in the playoffs, you know, and so this is what the playoffs feel like, you know, a lot of pressure, lot on the line, tough losses,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “And so the only thing you can do is you pick up your chin off the floor and you get back at it.”

Who is battling in the Eastern Conference?

In the East, the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and defending champion Boston Celtics are on a collision course, but the rest of the conference’s teams are fighting for position. That includes the Knicks and Pacers, who are at three and four in the standings, respectively.

The Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons could still move up, but they can’t move down, so there’s a feeling of relief for those players. The Orlando Magic are locked in at seven, awaiting its play-in tournament opponent. But the final three spots could still see a shakeup depending on how the final few games of the regular season finish.

The NBA play-in tournament begins on April 15 and wraps up on April 18, so it’s a whirlwind. After that, we’ll see some of the best in the game start their quest for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The Boston Celtics are trying to become the first team in 12 years to go back-to-back.